Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Brighthand: Three More Technologies That Could Profoundly Change Handhelds
Posted by Pat Logsdon in "ARTICLE" @ 02:00 PM
Brighthand has just posted another addition to their series of upcoming technologies with the potential to revolutionize handhelds. The technologies covered in this article are:
Nano-batteries: "These are made by stacking polymer electrolytes with special materials. Each battery's anode is made of a lithium-nickel-cobalt material, while the cathode end is nanometer-scaled graphite sheets." The goal of these batteries is to power a mobile phone for a month. ITRI Materials Research Lab has set a goal to "have one out within five years that can run for 100 days." 8O
Thin-Air Displays: "The Heliodisplay projects an image into the thin air, just like in all those science fiction movies. And it functions as a touch screen, too. It's possible to reach in and move things around on the 2D display." I02 Technology "currently has two proof-of-concept prototypes. One has a 42-inch (105 cm) image; the second has a 15-inch (38 cm) image which functions as a touch screen." It won't fit in your pocket yet though - the hardware is still "bigger than a slide projector".
Fluid Lenses: "Philips' FluidFocus system mimics the action of the human eye using a fluid lens that alters its focal length by changing its shape. This lens is made up of two non-mixing fluids of different optical properties. One of these is an electrically conducting aqueous solution, and the other is an electrically non-conducting oil. The shape of the lens is adjusted by applying an electric field across the water-repellent coating such that it becomes less water-repellent. By increasing the applied electric field, the surface of the initially convex lens can be made completely flat or even concave."
Of the three, I think the nano-batteries have the most potential. If the battery has enough juice to power a mobile phone for 100 days, it should be possible to pack a good number of power-hungry goodies into a Pocket PC and still get decent battery life. Heck, give me a WEEK and I'll be happy! 50gb HDD, anyone? :mrgreen:
Nano-batteries: "These are made by stacking polymer electrolytes with special materials. Each battery's anode is made of a lithium-nickel-cobalt material, while the cathode end is nanometer-scaled graphite sheets." The goal of these batteries is to power a mobile phone for a month. ITRI Materials Research Lab has set a goal to "have one out within five years that can run for 100 days." 8O
Thin-Air Displays: "The Heliodisplay projects an image into the thin air, just like in all those science fiction movies. And it functions as a touch screen, too. It's possible to reach in and move things around on the 2D display." I02 Technology "currently has two proof-of-concept prototypes. One has a 42-inch (105 cm) image; the second has a 15-inch (38 cm) image which functions as a touch screen." It won't fit in your pocket yet though - the hardware is still "bigger than a slide projector".
Fluid Lenses: "Philips' FluidFocus system mimics the action of the human eye using a fluid lens that alters its focal length by changing its shape. This lens is made up of two non-mixing fluids of different optical properties. One of these is an electrically conducting aqueous solution, and the other is an electrically non-conducting oil. The shape of the lens is adjusted by applying an electric field across the water-repellent coating such that it becomes less water-repellent. By increasing the applied electric field, the surface of the initially convex lens can be made completely flat or even concave."
Of the three, I think the nano-batteries have the most potential. If the battery has enough juice to power a mobile phone for 100 days, it should be possible to pack a good number of power-hungry goodies into a Pocket PC and still get decent battery life. Heck, give me a WEEK and I'll be happy! 50gb HDD, anyone? :mrgreen:
